Psy Chapter Two

Front 1

Biological Psychology

Back 1

a branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behaviour.

Front 2

Neuron

Back 2

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.

Front 3

Dendrite

Back 3

the bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that recieve messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.

Front 4

Axon

Back 4

the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands.

Front 5

Action Potential

Back 5

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon.

Front 6

Threshold

Back 6

the level of stimulation required to trigger nerve impulse.

Front 7

Synapse

Back 7

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite of cell body of the receiving neuron.

Front 8

Neurotransmitters

Back 8

chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons,

Front 9

Endorphines

Back 9

natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.

Front 10

Nervous System

Back 10

the body's speedy electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system.

Front 11

Peripheral Nervous System

Back 11

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

Front 12

Central Nervous System

Back 12

The brain and spinal cords

Front 13

Nerves

Back 13

neural "cables" containing many axons. these bundled axons, which are part of the peripheral nervous system, connect the central nervous system with muscles, glands and sense organs.

Front 14

Sensory Neurons

Back 14

neurons that carry incoming information from the sense receptors to the central nervous system.

Front 15

Motor Neurons

Back 15

neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands.

Front 16

Interneurons

Back 16

central nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.

Front 17

Somatic Nervous System

Back 17

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles

Front 18

Autonomic Nervous System

Back 18

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs. Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms

Front 19

Sympathetic Nervous System

Back 19

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.

Front 20

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Back 20

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy.

Front 21

Reflex

Back 21

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee- jerk response.

Front 22

Endocrine System

Back 22

the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.

Front 23

Hormones

Back 23

chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and affect another.

Front 24

Adrenal Glands

Back 24

a pair of endocrine glands just above the kidneys; secrete the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine which help the body in times of stress.

Front 25

Pituitary Gland

Back 25

the endocrine system's most influential gland. under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland regulates growth and controls endocrine glands.

Front 26

Brainstem

Back 26

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival function.

Front 27

Medulla

Back 27

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing.

Front 28

Thalamus

Back 28

the brains sensory switchboard located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory recieving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.

Front 29

Reticular Formation

Back 29

a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal.

Front 30

Cerebellum

Back 30

the "little brain", attached to the rear of the brainstem; its functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement ouput and balance.

Front 31

Limbic System

Back 31

a doughnut shaped system of neutral structures below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions such as fear and aggression and drives such as those for food and sex

Front 32

Amygdala

Back 32

two lima bean sized neutral clusters that are components of the limbic system and are linked to emotion.

Front 33

Hypothalamus

Back 33

a neutral structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities, helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland and is linked to emotion.

Front 34

Cerebral Cortex

Back 34

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information processing center.

Front 35

Frontal Lobe

Back 35

the portion of the cerebral cortex, lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements.

Front 36

Parietal Lobe

Back 36

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; recieves sensory input for touch and body position.

Front 37

Occipital Lobe

Back 37

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes the visual areas, each recieving information from the opposite visual field.

Front 38

Temporal Lobe

Back 38

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each recieving information primarily from the opposite ear.

Front 39

Motor Cortex

Back 39

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls the voluntary movements.

Front 40

Sensory Cortex

Back 40

the area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

Front 41

Association Areas

Back 41

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking and speaking.

Front 42

Aphasia

Back 42

impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area or to Wernicke's area